Sent Antuan Church

The Sent Antuan Church, located on Istiklal Street in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, is the largest and the widest Catholic Church in the city.

The church was first built by priests in the 1230s in the vicinity of Galata in the name of Saint Fransua, and then the church suffered two major fires and was then rebuilt in the same place. But after the fire of 1696, it was moved to its present new location. Its present name, Sent Antuan was given in 1724.

The current church was built in 1906 by architect Giulio Mongeri, who was born in Istanbul, to replace the old one. Giulio Mongeri studied architecture in Italy and returned to Turkey after his graduation. Mr. Mongeri, who was also interested in photography in Turkey, took very important photos at that time and he was a very successful architect in his field.

Mr. Mongeri completed the construction of the church in the Italian tradition and in reinforced concrete. Pope Ioannes XXIII preached for 10 years at The Sent Antuan Church while he was the Vatican's ambassador to Turkey before he was elected as Pope.